Visual Storytelling with Maps

Visual storytelling describes the communication of stories through illustrations, graphics, imagery, and video instead of, or in addition to, oral, written, audio formats. Compared to their popularity wide reach, empirical research on map-based visual remains limited. We work towards infilling this gap an study data journalism, providing first assessment four emerging design considerations for with maps: story map themes constituent narrative elements, genres, tropes, individual audience differences. Specifically, we recruited 125 participants online study, requiring them separately review two respond a series free-response Likert scale questions regarding retention, comprehension, reaction. followed 2×2×2 factorial stories, varying (US presidential campaign donations, US coastal sea-level rise), genres (longform infographic, dynamic slideshow), tropes (color highlighting, leader lines), while holding other dimensions constant. The theme did not influence participants’ total retention indicating that three-act its elements can be applied consistently effectively across variable kinds topics. Instead, and, weaker degree, influenced participant pointing importance intentional storytelling. Participants overall performed better when designs used longform infographics “scrollytelling” (genres) structure content lines (tropes) visually accent information. In contrast, reaction, feeling significantly more concerned about upset donations compared rise story. Individual differences by expertise, motivation, prior beliefs also Our signals need establishing education agenda both cartography journalism.